CAT 2020 Quant Question [Slot 1] with Solution 19

Given \(ab = 432,bc = 96\) and \(c < 9\)

To find the minimum value for \(a + b + c,\) the two larger numbers should be as close as possible.

The closest combination whose product is 432 is \(18 \times 24\). For \(b = 24,\) we get \(c = 4\) and \(a = 18\).

Hence the least value for \(a + b + c = 46\).